Former human relations officer alleges discriminatory treatment, wrongful firing
A federal lawsuit filed Aug. 10 by Tatiana Tooley, a former human relations officer for the city of Allentown, accuses city officials of illegally discriminating against her based on her age, race and national origin and seeks monetary damages. The filing makes Tooley the fourth current or former city employee to bring such claims, according to court documents.
Tooley, 56, who is described in the complaint as a Latina of Panamanian origin, was hired in 2019 to lead the Human Relations Office in the Department of Community and Economic Development. In that capacity, she oversaw the Human Relations Commission, managed investigations into alleged discrimination presented to that commission and provided public education on landlord-tenant matters and dispute resolution.
The suit centers on her work with then-supervisor Leonard Lightner on a plan, first discussed in late 2021, to establish an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and to appoint Tooley as manager of that office. The complaint says Mayor Matt Tuerk, who took office in January 2022, indicated support for the DEI initiative but "did not take any steps" to formalize it.
"[T]he mayor told Tooley that he envisioned Tooley’s role as DEI manager as 'substantially more limited' than Tooley and Lightner's original plan,"
The lawsuit states that in May 2022, Tuerk expressed a different, narrower vision for the DEI manager role and that duties then performed by Tooley as human relations officer were reassigned to other employees who, the complaint says, were white. The complaint also alleges that in the summer of 2022 the mayor asked Tooley to draft a resolution and job description for a manager of equity and inclusion for presentation to City Council.
According to the filing, Tooley prepared and submitted the resolution and job description to Mayor Tuerk, but the mayor never forwarded them to council for a vote. The suit further alleges a pattern in which "the mayor proceeded to fire or constructively discharge a number of older, minority employees in senior positions and replace them with younger" staff; the complaint asserts Tooley was similarly mistreated and ultimately deprived of her position.
Allegations and claims
- Discrimination bases: age, race and national origin.
- Employment period: hired in 2019 as human relations officer.
- Key allegation: city leadership limited Tooley's proposed DEI role and reassigned her duties to other employees.
- Relief sought: monetary damages (specific amount not disclosed in the source).
The complaint frames Tooley's allegations as violations of state and federal civil rights laws. It does not, in the material provided, include a detailed timeline of disciplinary actions or the specific mechanics of her departure, nor does it state whether the city has formally responded to the filing.
Local impact and unanswered questions
The filing raises questions about the status of Allentown’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and about personnel decisions made after the current mayor took office. Residents may want clarity on several fronts:
- Whether the city will provide a public response or file a formal answer in federal court.
- How the city’s human relations functions and any DEI initiatives are currently organized and staffed.
- Whether other pending or resolved employment claims involving the city relate to the same policies or decision-makers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Tatiana Tooley (former human relations officer) |
| Filing date | Aug. 10 (federal court) |
| Alleged bases | Age, race, national origin |
| Relevant officials named | Leonard Lightner (former supervisor), Mayor Matt Tuerk |
The suit is part of a string of complaints by city employees that together could prompt closer scrutiny of employment practices in Allentown’s municipal government. City leaders have an incentive to respond publicly to restore confidence in fairness and transparency, while legal proceedings will determine whether the claims meet the legal standards for relief under civil rights statutes.
WE NEWS will follow court filings and any statements from the city as the case progresses.
